Nettletree
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Trema micrantha
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Cannabaceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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Availability: |
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Grown by enthusiasts and occasionally by native plant nurseries. |
Description: |
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Small erect tree with a norrowly umbrella-shaped crown. Trunks erect, small, to 3 inches in diameter. Bark smooth when young, becoming rough with age. Leaves dark green and rough above, much lighter below. |
Height: |
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Typically 10-20 feet in height; to 39 feet in South Florida. Taller than broad. |
Growth Rate: |
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Fast. |
Range: |
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Monroe County Keys north to Martin, Hendry and Pinellas counties; West Indies, Mexico, Central America and South America. Very rare north of Broward and Collier counties. For a digitized image of Elbert Little's Florida range map, visit the Exploring Florida website. |
Habitats: |
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Hammock edges and gaps. |
Soils: |
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Moist, well-drained limestone or sandy soils, with humusy top layer. |
Nutritional Requirements: |
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Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive. |
Salt Water Tolerance: |
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Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water. |
Salt Wind Tolerance: |
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Low; salt wind may burn the leaves. |
Drought Tolerance: |
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High; does not require any supplemental water once established. |
Light Requirements: |
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Full sun to light shade. |
Flower Color: |
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Greenish-yellow to whitish. |
Flower Characteristics: |
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Inconspicuous. |
Flowering Season: |
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All year. |
Fruit: |
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Orange drupe borne on stems. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Provides significant food and some cover for wildlife. Larval host plant for io (Automeris io) moths; occasional larval host for martial scrub-hairstreak (Strymon martialis) butterflies. |
Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from de-pulped seed. Scatter seed over surface of soil and barely cover. Place container in light shade or full sun. Germination is in 3-4 weeks. Transplant into liners when mature leaves finish ermerging. |
Comments: |
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Most plants in south Florida are Trema floridanum. |
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George. D. Gann, 2021. In habitat, Delray Beach, Florida, USA.
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George. D. Gann, 2021. In habitat, Delray Beach, Florida, USA.
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George. D. Gann, 2021. In habitat, Delray Beach, Florida, USA.
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